Black widow spider sighted near Calgary

A western black widow spider, Alberta's only venomous species, was sighted near Calgary, an "extremely rare" occurrence for the region. The spider was identified by an entomology instructor. Western black widows are typically found in drier habitats much farther south in Alberta, and sightings near Calgary are likely due to transported materials. Black widow bites are rare and generally not fatal, with symptoms including nausea and cramping. The spiders are timid and only bite when threatened.